OPS 299
PRICITY
G/PHER/CAT A
FM FCO 1715362
CONFIDENTIAL
82
(HKK 6/3)
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL
lA
2
7.ix
TO PRIORITY BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER HONG KONG TELNO 88 OF 17 AUG. 73
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FROM MISS LACKEY FOR ASTON: YOUR TELEGRAM CRESA NO 79
1. I AM SORRY TO DISCOVER THAT YOU HAVE NOT BEEN KEPT INFORMED ON
THIS SUBJECT AND HAVE ARRANGED FOR THE FCO TO DISPATCH SEPARATELY TO
YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION THE ACCOUNT OF THE JULY MEETING
HELD IN DTI WITH HONG KONG OFFICIALS.
2. FROM THIS YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE AGREED (AND HAVE SO INFORMED
THE GOVERNOR) THAT WE SHALL BE SUBMITTING TO MINISTERS FOR A DECISION
ON THE POSSIBILITY OF OUR RE-OPENING THE ISSUE IN BRUSSELS BEFORE
THE QUESTION COMES UP AGAIN THERE, PROBABLY IN MID SEPTEMBER.
THERE ARE OF COURSE GRAVE DIFFICULITES. WE SHALL KEEP YOU INFORMED.
3. WHILST READILY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WILL BE OPEN TO THIS KIND
O HARRASSMENT, IT COULD DE EVEN MORE EMBARRASSING FOR THE GOVERNMENT MACHINE AS A WHOLE IF THE TASK AND THE TIMING OF EXPLAINING HMG'S POSITION WERE NOT LEFT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARIAT. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS JUST AS MANY, IF NOT MORE, GROUCHES TO LEVEL AT HONG KONG'S TREATMENT BY THE US AND JAPAN, TO TAKE BUT TWO EXAMPLES, BUT WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT STICKING FIRMLY TO THE COLONY'S
FREE TRADE SENTIMENTS THEY DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO WARP THEIR JUDGEMENT WHEN PLACING THEIR BUSINESS ORDERS. THE ISSUE OF PREFERENCES, AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE EXCHANGES, IS TOO COMPLEX AND THEREFORE TOO DELICAE TO BE ADEQUATELY DISCUSSED IN THIS KIND OF CUT AND THRUST WITH
CONFIDENTIAL
/BUSINESSMEN.
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